China: 'harmonious society' explained
anecdote · personal/autobiographical ·
retold in 3 talks
On a visit to China ten years prior, Žižek asked what 'harmonious society' means; he was told it means every individual is at their proper place doing their specific role, which he instantly identifies as corporate fascism.
≤2000talks it is told in, per year2026
As told 3
“It means a society where every part, individual, is at its own place and does his/her specific work. I said: Now I understand, in Europe we call this corporate fascism.”
“in a harmonious society, everyone is at his, her, or their proper place.”
“oh my God now there is no multicultural misunderstanding we call this fascist corporatism in Europe”
What it carries
one story, many jobs: the ideas this anecdote is deployed to argue, one tally mark per use (an idea page shows the same relation from the other end, as its shelf of stories)
Its cast and sources
populated by
Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais1Hardt and Negri1Timothy Snyder1Philip Gosse1Dmitry Medvedev1John Mearsheimer1Heinrich Heine1Frank Capra1
alongside works
Every retelling 3
On a visit to China ten years prior, Žižek asked what 'harmonious society' means; he was told it means every individual is at their proper place doing their specific role, which he instantly identifies as corporate fascism., illustrating harmonious society,fascism,ideology
Chinese officials tell Žižek they no longer talk of communism but a 'harmonious society' where everyone is in their proper place, leader, worker, teacher, wife. He replies that in Europe this is called corporate fascism., illustrating chimney sweep,antagonism
During a visit to China, Žižek asked officials to explain 'harmonious society.' Their answer: everyone is at their proper place, good father, good pupil, good worker. Žižek replied: 'In Europe we call this fascist corporatism.', illustrating harmonious society / Confucian capitalism,Christianity vs. pagan balance,fascism-corporatism